Apparatus for simultaneously filling a plurality of containers with liquid, gaseous or solid substances

ABSTRACT

In order to be able to simultaneously fill with a liquid, gaseous or solid flowable medium, without it being necessary to measure and monitor the filling volume or weight of each container, the filling plant has a pipeline system (10) for conveying the medium to be filled with a plurality of drawing-off lines (13, 113, 213) leading to the filling valves (20, 120, 220) and in which are arranged volume chambers (40, 140, 240) with rotors rotated by the medium flowing through the same, arranged jointly on a shaft (40) with a system pressure-dependent controlled brake (45). A balance (50) is only associated with a single filling valve (20) of the valves controlled by a control cylinder (25) and is used for controlling said cylinder (25). A feed pump (15) connected upstream of the filling valve (120) associated with balance (50) ensure a uniform exit velocity of the medium in the container when pressure fluctuations occur in the pipeline system (11, 13, 113, 213).

FIELD OF USE

The plant according to the invention can be used wherever liquid,gaseous or solid flowable media are to be simultaneously filled intoseveral containers.

PRIOR ART

Filling systems are known for filling liquid, gaseous or flowableproducts, which are constructed in such a way that even in the case ofthe simultaneous filling of several containers the in each casenecessary quantity of material to be filled is individually fixed. Sucha filling system requires a number of devices corresponding to thenumber of individual filling devices enabling the filling volume orweight of each container to be measured and monitored.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,891 discloses a plant for the simultaneous fillingof several containers, but using a number of dosing and filling devicescorresponding to the number of containers to be filled, an individualfilling device being associated with each container to be filled. Thefilling connections of the filling device permits the filling ofindividual containers in accordance with the filling volume. However,this plant does not provide for the measurement and monitoring of thefilling volume or weight of only a single container, the filling of theother containers being controlled on the basis of the monitoring of saidone container.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,205,920 has a filling apparatus with an association of avolume chamber and the coupling of valve actuation.

In the filling apparatus according to Swiss Pat. No. 174,324 aweight-dependent control member is provided, which functions in such away that the further supply of medium to be filled is interrupted whenthe in each case given weight is reached. On reaching the desiredweight, the further supply of filling medium is stopped. This fillingapparatus does not provide for the control of a plurality of fillingvalves via a single weight-controlled device.

PROBLEM, SOLUTION, ADVANTAGES

The present invention is intended to provide an economic filling systemenabling the simultaneous filling of several containers, it beingnecessary only to measure and monitor the filling volume or weight ofone container, which leads to a simple economic filling system, whoseoperating efficiency can be increased in the simplest possible way atany time and without significant technical expenditure and in which byswitching in or out of a drawing-off line connected to the fillingsystem and leading to a further consuming means, such as a tanker or thelike, pressure surges occurring in the supply lines are reduced forpreventing incorrect measurement results. In addition, a filling systemis to be provided enabling several containers to be simultaneouslyfilled, in which the filling volume or weight of only one container ismeasured and then need be used for controlling the inflow of furthermedium, so that by means of comparative measurements of flow rates, itis possible to control the filling volume or weight for the othercontainers. This leads to a simple, economic filling system with a highoperating efficiency and without significant technical expenditure. Itis only necessary to compare the flow rates to the individual containerswith a stored desired value and which permits the control of the furthermedium supply quantity. It can be housed in several areas, if the singlearea available cannot receive the complete apparatus with severalfilling stations. By switching in or out a drawing-off line connected tothe filling system and leading to a further consuming means, such astankers or the like, pressure surges occurring in the supply lines canbe reduced to prevent incorrect measurement results.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a filling plant,which is constructed in such a way that

(a) each of the supply lines leading to the filling valves contains avolume chamber with a rotor arranged in its inner area and which isrotated by the medium flowing to the particular filling valve,

(b) the rotors of all the volume chambers are rigidly interconnected bymeans of a mechanical shaft, which is connected by a brake controllableby means of a system pressure-dependent control device,

(c) for controlling the filling valves, a two-stage pneumatic controlcylinder is provided, which is directly connected to at least onefilling valve and is connected via an adjusting device to the furtherfilling valve,

(d) a control element connected to the control cylinder is provided andresponds to the weight of the filled medium via a balance associatedwith one of the filling valves,

(e) the main supply line is provided with a further drawing-off lineleading to a consuming means, and

(f) a feed pump is placed upstream of the filling valve in the supplyline leading to the filling valve with the associated balance.

Such a construction leads to a calibratable filling plant enablingseveral containers to be simultaneously filled, only the filling volumeor weight of one container being measured and monitored. It is ensuredthat the remaining containers not monitored by a balance are also filledwithin the scope of the permitted tolerances with the desired weight orvolume of the medium. This is achieved in that the rotors or impellersof the volume chambers are centrally driven via a shaft by the mediumflowing to the filling valves, so that by means of a systempressure-dependent brake, the rotational speed of the shaftinterconnecting the rotors of the volume chambers is controlled, so thatfinally the same pressure ratios prevail in all the volume chambers, sothat the medium to be filled is supplied to the filling valves with thesame pressure. Through the use of a single balance as the control means,the filling valves are controlled and simultaneously opened or closed.The closing of the filling valves takes place simultaneously on reachingthe given desired value on the balance.

The following advantages result from this filling plant. Only onecontainer is weighed or volumetrically monitored by a rotary pistonmeter. The filling tolerance of all further filling valves is merelydependent on the accuracy of the mechanically coupled volume chambers.As the accuracy of the mechanically coupled volume chambers is veryhigh, no or scarcely no filling tolerances influencing the final weightare obtained. An existing filling plant can be extended without anysignificant technical expenditure at any time. Pressure waves andfluctuations in the pipeline system of the plant do not influence thefilling tolerance. By coupling the volume chambers by means of a rigidshaft and through the synchronous operation of the filling valves by anadjusting mechanism, the calibratability condition is fulfilled.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to the further development of the invention according to claim2, the filling plant comprises:

(a) a pipeline system with a feed pump for supplying the medium to befilled,

(b) at least two filling valves connected to the pipeline system viasupply lines,

(c) a volume chamber arranged in the supply line and connected upstreamof each filling valve and having in its inner area a rotor with abearing shaft caused to rotate by the medium flowing to the fillingvalve,

(d) a control element responding to the weight of the filled medium viaa balance associated with one of the filling valves and which isconnected to a two-stage control cylinder, which is directly connectedto the filling valve,

(e) pneumatic two-stage control cylinders connected to the fillingvalves,

(f) flow rate recording devices connected to the volume chambers,whereof the flow rate according device of the volume chambers with thefilling valve controlled by the balance is connected to a device storingas a desired value the quantity of through-flown medium determined onswitching off the medium supply to the filling valve and which isdetected by the flow rate recording device, whereby in said device theflow rate recording devices of the other volume chambers are broughttogether and in which the desired values of the flow rate recordingdevice is compared with the actual values of the other flow raterecording devices for controlling the remaining filling valves and onreaching the desired values for the volume chambers the filling valvesassociated therewith are switched off,

(g) the main supply line is provided with a further drawing-off lineleading to a consuming means, and

(h) a feed pump is arranged in the supply line leading to the fillingdevice with the associated balance, so as to be positioned upstream ofthe valve.

On the basis of such a construction, once again a calibratable fillingsystem is obtained enabling several containers to be simultaneouslyfilled. Only the filling volume or weight of a single container ismeasured or monitored and the flow rate to the filling station of asingle container controlled by the balance is stored. The thusdetermined desired value is compared with the recorded and stored flowrate values of the remaining filling stations with the furthercontainers. On the basis of these comparative measurements, the controlof the further inflow or the disconnection of the medium inflow to thefurther filling stations with the containers is brought about. It isensured that the remaining containers are monitored by a balance andalso filled within the scope of the minimum tolerances with the desiredmedium weight or volume. This is achieved in that by means of a singlebalance via a control element only one of the filling valves is closed.The medium quantity which has flown through the volume chamber to saidclosed filling valve is maintained in the associated flow rate recordingdevice until the filling valve is closed and the thus obtained flow ratevalue is fed into the memory as a desired value. Simultaneously, theflow rate values obtained by the flow rate recording devices of theother volume chambers are supplied to the memory. The memory thencompares the actual values of the values determined by the flow raterecording devices and the stored flow rate value (desired value) of theflow rate recording device, whose associated filling valve is controlledby the balance. In the case of coincidence of the actual values of theother flow rate recording devices and the desired value, the remainingfilling valves are closed, so that the same medium quantity is obtainedin all the containers. As the measured value comparison takes place inthe memory in a minimum amount of time, so that there is no time lag, itis ensured that on closing the filling valves the same medium quantityis in fact obtained in all containers. This comparative measurement inthe memory ensures that in the case of those filling stations where thegiven desired weight has not been reached in the container to be filled,filling material continues to flow in until the predetermined desiredweight is reached and only then is the associated valve closed.

A filling plant constructed in this way leads to the followingadvantages.

Only a single container is weighed or volumetrically monitored by arotary piston meter, the flow rate through the associated volume chamberbeing stored as a desired value.

The filling tolerance of all the further filling valves is solelydependent on the speed of the comparative measurements of the flow ratevalues in the memory for the remaining filling stations and if thedesired value is not reached, the missing quantity of filling materialflows in until the desired value is reached and only then do the fillingvalves of the corresponding filling systems close. Accuracy is very highdue to the comparative measurements of the flow rate values and thecontrol via said comparative measurements.

Due to the fact that the filling valves of all the filling stations notconnected to the balance are controlled separately from the memory, itis ensured that none of the filling tolerances influencing the finalweight are obtained, so that it is possible for all the containers tohave the same quantities or weights.

Due to the fact that the volume chambers are no longer mechanicallyinterconnected, it is possible to house individual volume chambers orchambers combined into individual groups brought together with theirfilling valves in separate areas, if the available area is notsufficient for housing the complete plant.

Pressure waves and fluctuations in the pipeline system do not influencethe filling tolerance and are taken into consideration as a result ofthe comparative measurements in the memory.

Due to the fact that a further feed pump is provided in those supplylines containing filling valves associated with a balance, pressuresurges occurring in the pipeline system are reduced. It has been foundthat in all cases in which the main supply line is connected to afurther drawing-off line, by means of which a further consuming means,such as a tanker or the like is to be supplied during the filling of themedium into the container, pressure surges occur in the supply linesleading to the volume chambers and these have a disadvantageous effecton the measured results of the balance, in that in the case of a suddeninterruption of the medium supplied to the further consuming means,there is a pressure build-up in the supply lines, so that suddenly andin particular in surge-like manner medium is supplied to the containeron the balance. As a result of this sudden change in the medium supply,the balance gives false measurement results or supply such results tothe control means, so that the container does not contain the givenfinal filled medium weight. Through the arrangement of a feed pumpupstream of the filling valve associated with the balance, a uniformsupply of medium to the filling valve is ensured, so that the givenfinal weights are accurately respected. Increased exit velocities areavoided, because the upstream-connected feed pump ensures themaintaining of uniform exit velocities, even if pressure fluctuationsshould occur in the supply line from the feed pump.

Embodiments are described hereinafter relative to the drawings:

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a filling apparatus for the simultaneousfilling of a medium into several containers with volume chambers, whoserotors are interconnected by means of a common control shaft controlledby a balance.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a further embodiment of a fillingapparatus with a control means for the filling stations via the flowquantities in the volume chambers in conjunction with a balance.

BEST WAY FOR PERFORMING THE INVENTION

The filling plant according to FIG. 1 comprises a pipeline system 10comprising a main supply line 11 for the medium to be filled and whichcontains a feed pump 12, as well as a plurality of further supply lines13, 113, 213 branching off from the main supply line 11 and which leadsto a corresponding number of filling valves 20, 120, 220. The number offilling valves can be chosen at random and depends on the size of thefilling apparatus and the number of containers to be simultaneouslyfilled. In the embodiment of the filling apparatus shown in FIG. 1,there are three filling valves. The main supply line 11 is provided witha drawing-off line 111, which leads to a further consuming means, e.g.to a tanker 115.

The operation of the filling valves 20, 120, 220, which are constructedin per se known manner, i.e. the opening, setting and closing takesplace by means of an adjusting device 21, which is connected to thefilling valves 20, 120, 220 and which is controlled by a two-staged,pneumatic control cylinder 25.

A container 30, 130, 230 to be filled is associated with each fillingvalve 20, 120, 220. These containers can be barrels, drums, packs, etc,no limits being set with respect to the dimensions of the container tobe filled. In place of the container, it is also possible tosimultaneously fill in the same way the loading areas of trucks,freighters, etc. Upstream of each filling valve 20, 120, 220 isconnected to a volume chamber 40, 140, 240, which are arranged in thesupply lines 13, 113, 213 branching off from the main supply line 11 andwhich lead to the filling valves 20, 120, 220. In the interior of eachvolume chamber 40, 140, 240 is provided a rotor, not shown in thedrawing, which is rotatable in the volume chamber and which is rotatedby the medium flowing to the filling valve. The rotors of all the volumechambers 40, 140, 240 are rigidly interconnected by means of amechanical shaft 41, which is connected to a brake 45, controlled by asystem pressure-dependent control device 145, which once again gives therotational speed of the rotors in the volume chambers 40, 140, 240, sothat the same pressure ratios prevail in all the chambers.

The bearing shafts of the rotors of volume chambers 40, 140, 240 can beconnected to one another via plug-in connections to shaft 41, so that itis possible to extend an existing filling plant having a certain numberof volume chambers with filling valves. To this end, each filling valvewith the volume chamber associated therewith is constructed as astandard component 70, so that it is merely necessary to have aconnection of the volume chamber to the main supply line 11 to theexisting pipeline system 10 and a connection to the adjusting device 21.

A balance 50 constructed in per se known manner is associated with oneof the filling valves 20, 120, 220 of the filling apparatus. In the caseof the embodiment shown in the drawing, the balance 50 is positionedbelow the filling valve. Balance 50 is connected to a control element 60enabling the control cylinder 25 to be controlled.

In the supply line 113 to filling valve 120, with which the balance 50is associated, is provided a feed pump 15, which supplies the fillingvalve 120 with the incoming medium at a uniform feed rate.

The filling plant according to FIG. 1 functions as follows. The mediumto be filled is fed by means of feed pump 12 through the pipeline system10 to the filling valves 20, 120, 220. The medium flows out of thefilling valves into the containers positioned below the same. Upstreamof each filling valve 20, 120, 220, the medium flows through the volumechambers 40, 140, 240 positioned upstream of said valves and whoserotors are rotated by the flowing medium.

Due to the fact that the rotors of the volume chambers 40, 140, 240associated with the filling valves 20, 120, 220 are interconnected byshaft 41, it is ensured that the same medium quantity is supplied toeach valve, within the scope of the precision of the rotors of volumechambers 40, 140, 240 rigidly interconnected by means of shaft 41. Thefilling valves 20, 120, 220 are set to coarse and fine volumes, as wellas opened and closed by means of the two-stage pneumatic controlcylinder 25. The precise synchronization during operating, setting andclosing of filling valves 20, 120, 220 is produced by the adjustingdevice 21 between control cylinder 25 and the filling valves.

The pneumatic control cylinder 25 is controlled by means of the controlmechanism 60, which responds to the weight of the filled medium viabalance 50.

Optionally, and if necessary, a brake 45 can be provided for controllingthe system pressure on mechanical shaft 41, which connects the rotors ofvolume chambers 40, 140, 240. The braking torque is regulated inaccordance with the optimum system pressure by means of controlmechanism 145.

The filling plant is suitable for the filling of liquid, gaseous orsolid substances, whereby the latter must have flow characteristics.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the rotational speedof shaft 41 and the rotors of the volume chambers 40 140, 240 connectedthereto takes place by means of a not shown, regulatable electric motorinstead of via brake 45. This regulating motor can also be constructedin pole-changeable manner.

The switching over from coarse feed to fine feed of the medium to befilled via balance 50 takes place by means of the control cylinder 25controlled by control element 60. This switching over from coarse feedto fine feed is achieved through a given weight, so that on reachingthis weight or volume via the fine feed medium is supplied until thedesired weight is reached.

The filling plant according to FIG. 2 is constructed in roughly the sameway as that according to FIG. 1. The filling plant also comprises apipeline system 10 comprising a main supply line 11 for the medium to befilled and in which is arranged a feed pump 12, as well as a pluralityof further supply lines 13, 113, 213 branching from the main supply line11 and which lead to a corresponding number of filling valves 20, 120,220. The number of filling valves can be chosen at random and isdependent on the size of the particular filling apparatus and the numberof containers to be simultaneously filled. In the embodiment of afilling plant shown in the drawing, there are three filling valves. Themain supply line 11 is provided with a drawing-off line 111, which leadsto a further consuming means, e.g. to a tanker 115.

The operation of the filling valves 120, 20, 220 constructed in per seknown manner, i.e. the opening, setting and closing takes place by meansof pneumatic and advantageously two-stage-functioning control cylinders25, 125, 225, but it is also possible to provide differently constructedcontrol and drive means for operating the filling valves 20, 120, 220.

With each filling valve 20, 120, 220 is associated a container 30, 130,230 to be filled. These containers are drums, barrels, packs, etc, nolimits being set with regards to the dimensions of the container to befilled. In place of the containers, it is also possible tosimultaneously fill in the same way the loading areas of trucks,freighters, etc.

Upstream of each filling valve 20, 120, 220 is connected a volumechamber 40, 140, 240, arranged in the supply lines 13, 113, 213branching off from the main supply line 11 and leading to valves 20,120, 220. In the inner area of each volume chamber 40, 140, 240 isprovided a rotor (not shown), which is rotatable in the volume chamberby means of bearing shafts (41, 141, 241) and which is rotated by themedium flowing to the filling valve. The rotors of all the volumechambers 40, 140, 240 are correspondingly mounted by means of theirbearing shafts 41, 141, 241.

Each bearing shaft 41, 141 or 241 of each rotor of each volume chamber40, 140 or 240 is connected to a flow rate recording device 42, 142,242, which determine the quantities of media flowing through chambers40, 140, 240 and namely via the rotational speed or the number ofrotations of the bearing shafts 41, 141, 241 of the individual rotors.Due to the fact that the volume of each volume chamber is fixed and allthe chambers have the same volumes, it is possible by means of bearingshafts 41, 141, 241 to determine the values and record the mediumquantities flowing through the individual volume chambers.

Each filling valve is constructed with the volume chamber associatedtherewith as a standard component 70, so that it is only necessary toconnect the volume chambers to the main supply line 11 of the existingpipeline system 10, to be able to extend existing plants so as to matchthe necessary requirements.

A balance 50 constructed in per se known manner is associated with oneof the filling valves 20, 120, 220 of the filling plant. In theembodiment of FIG. 2, balance 50 is positioned below the filling valve20. Balance 50 is connected to a control element 60, which in turncontrols the control cylinder 25. By means of balance 50 and controlelement 60, control cylinder 25 is controlled for the switching on andoff of the filling valve 20 associated with container 20. However, it isalso possible to control one of the other filling valves 120 or 220 viabalance 50.

In the supply line 13 to the filling valve 20 with which the balance 50is associated, is provided a feed pump 15, which supplies the incomingmedium at a uniform feed speed to the filling valve 20.

The flow rate recording devices 42, 142, 242 connected to the volumechambers 40, 140, 240 are used for determining the quantities of mediaflowing through the volume chambers. All three flow rate recordingdevices 42, 142, 242 are connected to a device 160 storing the flow ratevalues determined by said devices. The overall arrangement is such thatthe flow rate quantity values determined by flow rate recording device42 is fed as a desired value into memory 160. The flow rate quantityvalues determined by the flow rate recording devices 142, 242 are alsofed as actual values into the memory 160 and are compared therewith thestored flow rate value (desired value) of the flow rate recording device42. This memory 160 can also have control functions, if no separatecontrol element 170 is provided. The control function comprises when thevolume chambers 140, 240 have reached their desired values and whichmust coincide with the stored desired value of the flow rate recordingdevice 42, filling valves 120, 220 are switched off by means of controlcylinders 125, 225. Thus, the latter are connected to the controlelement 170 or the control part of memory 160.

The filling plant according to FIG. 2 functions as follows. The mediumto be filled is fed by means of feed pump 12 through pipeline system 10to filling valves 20, 120, 220, which are in the open position. From thefilling valves, the medium flows into the containers 30, 130, 230positioned beneath the same. On the way to each filling valve 20, 120,220, the medium flows through the volume chamber 40, 140, 240 connectedupstream of the particular filling valve and whose rotor is rotated bythe flowing medium. The quantities flowing through the volume chambersare determined by the flow rate recording devices 42, 142, 242 and thevalues obtained are fed into memory 160, as will be explainedhereinafter. As a result of pressure fluctuations and waves in thepipeline system, it is possible for different medium quantities orvolumes to be supplied to the containers 30, 130, 230 via filling valves20, 120, 220. However, in order to have the same amounts or volumes ofthe medium in all the containers 30, 130, 230, on reaching apredetermined weight, the control elements 60 of balance 50 brings abouta closing of filling valve 20 via the controlled control cylinder 25.Simultaneously, the medium quantity which has flowed through the volumechamber 40 is determined and the flow quantity value is retained in theflow quantity recording device 42 and fed into memory 160 as a desiredvalue. The values detected by the flow rate recording devices 142, 242for the medium quantities which have flown through the volume chambers140, 240 are fed into memory 160 as actual values. By means of per seknown devices in memory 160, the actual values of the flow raterecording devices 142, 242 are compared with the desired value of theflow rate recording device 42 and if the actual values have reached thedesired value, the two control cylinders 125, 225 of filling valves 120,220 are controlled by element 170 and the filling valves 120, 220 areclosed. Thus, no further medium can flow into containers 130, 230. Thismakes it possible by means of a flow rate quantity value taken fromvolume chamber 40 and used as a desired value to control the flow ratethrough the other volume chambers 140, 240 and to close their fillingvalves 120, 220 at the time at which the medium quantity alreadydetected by the flow rate recording device 42 has flown through volumechambers 140, 240.

If e.g. all three containers 30, 130, 230 are to be filled with a 50 kgfilling medium quantity, then prior to reaching the weight of 50 kg,e.g. at 48 kg, filling valve 20 in container 30 is closed via balance 50using control elements 60. The flow rate quantity of 48 kg determined bythe flow rate recording device 42 is fed as a desired value into memory160, whilst taking account in the flow rate recording device 42 of aquantity difference occurring over the path from volume chamber 40 tofilling valve 20. If the flow rate quantity values determined by theflow rate recording devices 142, 242 differ from the 48 kg values storedin memory 160 as a desired value, then controlled by the control element170, the two filling valves 120, 220 for container 130, 230 remain openuntil the quantities in volume chambers 140, 240 have reached thedesired value in memory 160. If the flow rate values of the flow raterecording devices 142, 242 are below the desired value in memory 160,then via the open filling valves 120, 220 medium flows into containers130, 230 until the desired value is reached. The flow rate recordingdevices 142, 242 record the new actual values and feed them into memory160, where the in each case varying actual values are compared. Controlelement 170 then brings about the closing of filling valves 120, 220,when the actual values of the flow rate recording devices 142, 242 havereached the stored desired value of the flow rate recording device 42.

Advantageously, balance 50 is set in such a way that the filling valves20 are closed before the given weight desired value of the balance isreached. This ensures that a higher medium quantity does not flowthrough the volume chambers 140, 240 to the filling valves 120, 220 andinto the containers 130, 230, so as to exceed the predetermined desiredweight value of balance 50.

The filling plant according to FIG. 2 is also suitable for fillingliquid, gaseous or solid materials, whereby the latter must have flowcharacteristics.

The switching over from coarses feed to fine feed of the filling mediumis brought about by balance 50 via control cylinder 25 controlled bycontrol element 60. This is achieved by a desired value set in thebalance (e.g. 48 kg), so that on reaching this desired weight or volume,the fine feed continues to supply medium until the predetermined desiredweight value (e.g 50 kg) is determined by balance 50 and the fillingvalve 20 is closed. The flow rate recording device 42 now records thedesired volume value corresponding to the desired weight and which isfed into memory 160. If the flow rate quantity values of the flow raterecording devices 142, 242 are below the desired value in memory 160,then via the open filling valves 120, 220 medium flows into containers130, 230 until the desired volume value and consequently the desiredweight value of 50 kg is reached, so that all the containers 30, 130,230 are filled with 50 kg of filling medium. Through a correspondingpreselection of the switchover point from coarse feed to fine feed,whilst constructing the control cylinders 125, 225 in such a way thatthey also permit a control from coarse feed to fine feed, it is possibleto avoid filling individual containers with more than the desired weightor volume.

It is advantageous if a feed pump 15 is arranged in each of the supplylines 13, 113, 213 leading to the filling valves 20, 120, 220. All thepumps operate synchronously, so that the same inflow rate is obtainedfor all the filling valves. The feed pump or pumps 15 must have a feedrate, which is slightly above the feed rate of feed pump 12, if aconsuming means is connected and being serviced.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for the simultaneous filling of a liquid orsolid, flowable medium into several containers, such as drums, barrels,packs or the like, comprising a pipeline system with a feed pump for thesupply of the medium to be filled and with filling valves connected bysupply lines above the container to be filled, wherein each of thesupply lines to the filling valves contains a volume chamber with arotor arranged in its inner area, each rotor rotated by the mediumflowing to the particular filling valve, wherein the rotors of all thevolume chambers are rigidly interconnected by means of a mechanicalshaft which shaft is connected to a brake controlled by a systempressure-dependent control device, a two-stage, pneumatic controlcylinder for controlling the filling valves, the control cylinderdirectly connected to at least one filling valve and connected to theremaining filling valves via an adjusting device, a control elementconnected to the control cylinder, the control element responding to theweight of the filled medium via a balance associated with one of thefilling valves, the main supply line including a further drawing-offline leading to a consuming means, and a feed pump placed upstream ofthe filling valve in the supply line leading to the filling valve withthe associated balance.
 2. Apparatus for the simultaneous filling of aliquid or solid, flowable medium into several containers, such as drums,barrels, packs or the like, comprising a pipeline system with a feedpump for the supply of the medium to be filled and with filling valvesconnected to supply lines above the container to be filled, wherein eachof the supply lines to the filling valves contains a volume chamber witha rotor arranged in its inner area, and including pneumatic two-stagecontrol cylinders connected to the filling valves, and a plurality offlow rate recording devices connected to the volume chambers, a controlelement connected to one of said control cylinders, the control element,responding to the weight of the filled medium via a balance associatedwith one of said filling valves, wherein a first of the flow raterecording devices associated with the volume chamber with the fillingvalve controlled by the balance is connected to a device storing as adesired value the quantity of medium which has flowed through asdetermined on switching off the medium supply to the filling valve andwhich is detected by the first flow rate recording device, wherein theremaining flow rate recording devices of the other volume chambers arebrought together in the storing device and the desired values of thefirst flow rate recording device is compared in the storing device withthe actual values of the other flow rate recording devices forcontrolling the remaining filling valvs and on reaching the desiredvalues for the volume chambers, the filling valves associated therewithare switched off, and the main supply line including a furtherdrawing-off line leading to a consuming means, and a feed pump placedupstream of the filling valve in the supply line leading to the fillingvalve associated with the balance.
 3. Apparatus according to claims 1 or2, wherein a feed pump is provided in each of the supply lines leadingto the filling valves.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein thefeed pumps in the supply lines operate synchronously.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the feed rate of the feed pumps in thesupply lines is slightly above the feed rate of the feed pump in thepipeline system.